Air cleaning and moistening device



May 10, 1932.

R. MATTESON AIR CLEANING AND MOIST ENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1930 a FaZU/LZZMZZZ SW INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY May 10, 1932. R. D. MATTESON I AIR CLEANING AND MOISTENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1930 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 1932 I UNITED- s'rA'rss PATENT "OFFICE RALPH 1). ml, 0] BOISE, IDAHO cmuxmo um uors'rnnrae nmcn Application filed Iovember 1a; mo.- Serialllo. 496,470.

The present invention comprehends the provision of a motor attachmentin thenature of'an air cleaning and moistening device, whereby the air is introduced into the vI carbureter of the motor in a clean and moistened condition, and thereby increasesthe efiiciency of the motor. v a

One of the chief characteristics of the present invention resides in the construction of 1 adevice for this purpose, through which the air is caused to ursue an lrregular course before entering t e carburetor, so that air is thoroughly cleaned, and properly moistened u to the desired extent before leaving the dev1ce..

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character above-mentioned, constructed to be easily associated with the carbureter, and supplied a with water from the 'pump of the motor in the necessary or desired amount to moisten the passing through the device.

The invention also contemplates-the rovision of a device of this character, w rein the component parts can be quickly and eas led, and the'air moistening and eke-1E elements replaced fromtimetotimeas occasionmayre-- a The nature and advantages of theinvention will be better understood when the following detailed, description read in con-;

drawings,

nection with the accompanying the invention residing in the construction,

a combination and arrangement of parts as I O i I c is a sectional view on line 4-4 cas'mg, the opposite end of casing-being w 1 is a side elevation of a motor Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates generally a motor of an well known construction, the carbureter or which is shown at 11 and the water pump at 12.

- The device forming the subject matterof a the present invention com rises a casing adapted to be coupled with t e carbureter 11, and through .which casing the air passes in entering the carbureter, and dealt within a manner to thoroughly clean the air as well as at moisten-the same rior to its intr uction into the carburetor. the. specific embodiment of theinvention herein illustrated, the deviceembodies inner and outer casings and 14 respectively, and while these casmgs are substantially of thesamelength, it will be noted upon-inspection of Figure 2 that the inner casin 13' is spaced a sli ht distance from th'e'c osed end wall 15 of t e outer open w1th the inner casing 13 projecting a slight distance'beyondthislast-mentiouedend of the outer casing '14. The closed end wall 15 of the outer casing is curved as illustrated for a purpose to be presently described, while the outer end of the inner casing 13 is grlivided with a suitable cap or; closure 16.

jectin'g centrally from the of the outer casing 14 is a hollow sleeve-like-coupling 17 for associatinithe device with the carbureter 11 and whi coupling of course constitutes the outlet for the device. The cou- Y plingsleeve 17 projects an agpreciable distance ithin both the inner an outercasin and supported by this sleeve 17 is a liquid sorbent element which is located centrally within the inner casing 13.

While this element may vary in construction and design, it preferably consists of a cylindrical member 18' of suitable absorbent material which is reinforced on opposite sides foraminated material, such as fine mesh wire 19. The element is also reinforced-at its-o posite end by substantially U-shaped me 'e rings 20 which embrace the component parts of the element as illustrated. As above stated this liquid absorbent element is supported by the inner end of the coupling sleeve 17, and is substfllltially wexte i m I. length with'the inner casing 13, althou h h v outer end of the element is further supported g l'xthe closure cap 16 for the inner casing 13. is cap 16 is preferably provided with a transverse bar 21 arranged between the annular flange 22 of the cap as clearly illustrated in Figure 5, and the bar 21 is notched at spaced points as at 23 to receive the adjacent end of the absorbent elementas illustrated in Figure 2. The material struck from the bar 21 in the formation of the notches 23 is bent in opposite directions and arranged in right angular relation to the bar 21 as clearly shown in Figure 5. Manifestly when the cap 16 is located inposition for use, the adjacent end of the absorbent element 18 is received by the notches 23, and the angularly disposed portions 24 of the bar bear against the ad acent end of the element 18 and thereby immovably fjs'upports the element within the'inner cylin- "der 13. Of course the absorbent element can be very easily and conveniently removed, by first removing the closure cap 16, and conseuently this element can be readily replaced rom time to time as the occasion may requlre. Located within the inner casing 13 at Its.

inner end is a disk 25 including a hub-like portion 26 su ported by the coupling sleeve p 17. This disk is provided with a CIICllHlfBlBIl tial series of slots or air passages 27 and is also f formed to provide angularly dis osed blades 28. The purpose of this disk wil be presently set forth. The'space between the inner.

and'louter casings 13 is filled with an air cleaning element, preferably in the nature of steel wool which may be saturated with oil or asuitable com osition forthis urpose. This material is in icated at 29 an obviously can be quickly removed and replaced from time to time as the occasion may require.

Arising from the device is a short length of pipe 30, the upper end of which is suitably 18 in a moistened condition. The water how-\ ever is introduced into the device drop by drop that is to say intermittently, and in just coupled with awater supply pipe 31 leading from one side of the water pump 12, so that water is conveyed through the pipe 31 into the device to maintain the absorbent element such amount as is necessary to maintain the element,18 in a properly moistened condition. For this purpose, the pipe 31 is provided with a valve '32 which can regulate the flow of water to the device, while the pipe 30 is provided with a sight tube 33 andslotted as illustrated in Figure 3 so that this tube can be readily seen. Manifestly the water emitted to the device is dropped upon the absorbent element 18 to maintain the latter in a moistened condition, and any surplus water that might accumulate in the inner casing 13 is conveyed therefrom through a drain pipe 34.

'- In practice, the device is associated with the carbureter 11, and by reason of its construction, the air enters the device from one end of the outer casing 13, and through the space between the inner and outer casings as illustrated. Consequently the air passin through the steel wool 29 is first cleane and as the air leaves the space just referred to, it is deflected by the curved closed wall 15 of the outer casing 14 into the inner casing 13. To enter this inner casing, the air must pass through the slots or passages 27 of the disk 25, which is rovided with blades 28 to give the air va w irling or circular motion about the absorbent element 18, so that the air is. brought into contact with this element about all sides thereof, as the air flows throughthe inner casing 13 in the direction of the closure cap 16; The air is finally directed into the absorbent element 18, and finally passes through the latter to be further moistened before leaving the device and entering the carbureter 11 through the coir.

pling sleeve 17. In this manner, the aifi'is caused to pursue an irregular course t ugh the device before entering the carbure er 1 1, and is retained within the .device a suflicient length of time to be thoroughly cleaned and properly moistened before entering the carbureter. As above stated, the element 18 is maintained in a moistenedcondition by the introduction of water from-the pump 12 through the supply pipe 31, and the amount of. water introduced into the, device can be regulated by means of the valve 32. The

device is constructed to permit the parts to be quickly and easily assembled or disassembled as the occasion may require, and both the steel wool 29 and the absorbent element 18 to be replaced from time to time as may be necessary.

While it is believed that from the fore going description the nature and advantages of the invention-will be readilyunderstood, I'

desire to have it known that I do not limit myself to what is herein illustrated and described and that such changes may be resortent element located axially of and within the inner casing and through which the air passes in leaving thedevice, means including a water supply pipe dischargingonto the top of the absorbent element for maintaining said element in a moistened condition, and an axial coupling sleeve extending from the other end of the outer casing for association with the carbureter of the motor.

2. An air cleaning and moistening device for motors comprising spaced inner and outer casings, said outer casing being open at tween said casings, a tubular liquid absorbone end, a closure for the adjacent end of the projecting from the'other end of the outer inner casing, whereby air enters the device casing for association with the carburetor through the space between said casings, means of the motor. ,for giving said air a whirling motion as it 7 passes from said space into the inner casin a liquid absorbent element arranged centra 1y within the inner casing and through which the air finally passes in'leaving the device,

means for maintaining said element in a 10 moistened condition, and a coupling sleeve.

projecting from the other end of the outer casing for association with the carbureter of the motor.

3. An air cleaning and moistening device for motors comprising spaced inner and outer casings, saidouter casin ing open at one end, a closure for the ad acent end of the inner cas' -through t e space between said casings, air cleanin means arranged within said space,

means or giving said air a whirling motion as it passes from said space into the inner casing, a liquid absorbent element arranged centrally of the inner casing and throu h which the air finally passes in leaving the evice, means for maintaining said element in a moistened condition, and a coupling sleeve projecting from the other end of the outer casing for association with the carburete'r of 80 the motor.

4. An air cleaning and moistening device for motors comdprising spaced inner and outer casings, sai outer casing being open at one end, a closure for the adjacent end of the inner casing, whereby air enters the device through the space between said casingls, an air cleaning element arranged within t 0 space between said casings, means for giving said air a whirling motion as it passes from 0 the said space into the inner casin a liquid absorbent element arranged centrafilyof the inner casing and throu h which the air final- 1y passes in leavin t e device, means for intermittently intro ucing the water into the 4 device to maintain said element in a moistened condition, and a couplin sleeve projecting from theother end of t e outer casing for association with the carbureter of the motor. 7

5. An air cleaning and moistening device for motors comprising spaced inner and outer casings, sai outer casing being open at one end, a closure for the adjacent end of the inner casing, whereby air enters the device through the space between said casings, an air cleaning element arran ed in the space between the casings, a liqui absorbent element located centrally the inner casing and through which the air finally passes in leaving the device, a water supply pipe I leading from the pump of the motor to sand I inner 01151:? for maintaining said element in a moisten condition, a valve located in said pipe for regulating the introduction of water I! into said inner casing,- and a coupling sleeve whereby air enters the device In testimony whereof I afix m in ture.

RALPH D. MA N. 

